Skype goes prepaid through retail

Voice and video service provider, Skype, is entering the retail market for the first time in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) with the launch of two pre-paid cards aimed at growing the brand through product awareness.

Skype Asia-Pacific head of marketing, Nick Gundry, told ARN that the pre-paid credits will be available as $10 and $25 cards. Standard call charges will apply for all standard and premium Skype services; there are no bonuses included for using the prepaid offer.

The cards will hit Allphones on Thursday, November 21, and then move into Harvey Norman , Network Communications, 7/11, selected newsagents and major service stations (BP, Caltex, Mobil, for example) from next week.

Gundry also revealed that Skype will be launching more products in March 2013. He said that while there are no confirmations for bulk packs (for businesses), it is something the provider is looking at for future releases.

"This is the first time we have done any direct on-ground marketing in A/NZ," Gundry said. "I think people will be surprised to see Skype on the shelf."

The pre-paid cards are targeted at impulse buyers, cash-carrying buyers, and shoppers looking for a gift idea.

Gundry said that the people who have a higher capacity to use the solution are international students, travelers, and ex-patriots, with the premium services to see most interest from small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

Skype did not reveal its revenue generation predictions, nor the number of units it expects to sell.